Canelo: I’m ready for Trout

By Miguel Maravilla
Photos: Gene Blevins – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy

WBC jr. middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (41-0-1, 30KOs) is just three weeks away from his title unification showdown with WBA jr. middleweight champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (26-0, 14KOs). The two will meet later this month on April 20 in San Antonio, Texas. Canelo worked out Thursday afternoon for media at the Wild Card West Gym in Santa Monica, California.

“It’s going very well,” Canelo told Fightnews.com. “I’m ready with a little more than two weeks to away. I’m ready to go.” The Mexican superstar began his preparation in his hometown of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico before coming to Santa Monica as he continues his preparation in the beach city located west of Los Angeles. He has been training here for the last six weeks working with his longtime team and father/son duo of manager Jose “Chepo” Reynoso and trainer Eddie Reynoso.

“I see him very well with a strong work ethic and hungry as always, just like when he was a boy. He is always willing to learn and improve. I see him ready,” trainer Eddie Reynoso told Fightnews.

Jose “Chepo” Reynoso added, “Canelo is always training hard we know what the other fighter has and it’s a tough fight but I know we have done what is necessary to come out victorious.”

Alvarez looks strong and ready as he began his workout skipping the jump rope. His promoter Oscar de la Hoya was also present as he watched Canelo shadowboxing. Then Alvarez worked his way to the heavy bag punching away combinations.

“He is prepared and ready to go 100 percent. I have seen him spar. He is there. It’s going to be a tough fight. You want to swim with the sharks you have to swim fast this is going to be his moment. It reminds me of when I fought Quartey,” Oscar de la Hoya told Fightnews.com. “Not because of his (Trout’s) style, but in terms of how he (Canelo) has his doubters. I had my doubters going into the Quartey fight.”

In preparation for his unification showdown, Canelo has been sparring with undefeated jr. middleweight prospect Hugo “Boss” Centeno (18-0, 9KOs) of Oxnard to help adjust to Trout’s style. Centeno has become one of the latest young talents of Oxnard which has produced many great boxers in the last years and decade.

“Hugo Centeno was a great help for us he surprised me he boxes very well as a southpaw. Sparring has been a great help for us to prepare for Trout’s Style,” Eddie Reynoso said.

“He helped me very well with sparring as he moves well around the ring and it was a great job we did working together,” Alvarez said about his sparring.

Trout is a slick strong southpaw that sits in the pocket outworking his opponents. He is coming off the biggest win of his career in defeating Miguel Cotto by a convincing unanimous decision last December in Cotto’s backyard in New York at Madison Square Garden. Cotto was slated to be Canelo Alvarez’ next opponent but with Trout winning as Canelo was at ringside Trout grabbed the microphone and called out Canelo, speaking in Spanish asking Alvarez to give him a shot.

“Trout is a very awkward, difficult fighter but he is heavy on his fight and doesn’t throw enough. I didn’t see the fight but when I heard he whipped Cotto, I was like ok. However when I saw the fight it was closer than what the judges scored it.” Eddie Reynoso told us. “Expect Canelo to be smart in the ring and all over Austin Trout.”

“He is a very complicated fighter, a southpaw that is intelligent and with fast hands. We know it’s a tough fight, but I’m ready for him,” Canelo said.

One of the story lines of the fight is that Trout won his WBA super welterweight title by easily defeating Canelo’s older brother Rigoberto Alvarez by Alvarez’ hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. “I was at ringside for that fight and it was a very sour experience to watch my brother lose. You feel helpless not being able to fight for your family. Now after two years to be facing him (Trout), to get a chance to redeem my brother, I look forward to it,” Alvarez said.

Canelo Alvarez scored a fifth round TKO over Josesito Lopez last September at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Many say that Josesito is a smaller guy, a welterweight, but he comes to fight and we gave the fans a good fight. Well, Trout is the other champion at my weight and undefeated and an awkward fighter,” Alvarez commented. “I always enjoy going into the ring to give it my best, a great fight, and win!”